Liquid meter



Feb. 17, 1942. Y P. s. MORGAN LIQUID METER Filed octqls, 1940 2 'Sheets-Sheet l mvENToR i Parfer Malga?! 1 ATTORN Feb. 17, 1942. Y P, s, MORGAN LIQUID METER Filed Oct. 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :Inventor Porf'er .5. Morgan f 'WW Gttorneg Ato a meter effective to measure which is adjustable in crder to ccrrclcic the Patented Feb. 17, 1942 LIQUID METER Porter S. Morgan, Westport, Conn. Application octcli'ci- 1s, 1940, serial Nc. 361,757

(cl. 'z3-232) 7 Claims,

. -This invention relates to meters for measuring liquid volumes, and it has particular reference accurately liquids, such as gasoline, which are dispensed intermittently and under varying flow rates.

The retail dispensing of gasoline is commonly effected by means of a motor driven pump, whose eflluent is delivered' through a hose having a-l valved nozzle Aat its end. The gasoline, after leaving the pump, passes through a flow meter whose operating mechanism is connected to a register or counter,-to show the number of gallons so dispensed. A present type of counter, `commonly called a computer, is so devised as to indicate-both the number of gallons and the total price thereof, this last indication being obtained by suitable mechanism in the computer, and price indication to variations in the unit price per gallon. i

Such computers, directly connected to the flow meter, impose a significant torque load on the meter itself, and therefore necessitate the use of a meter capable, under the lflow rates encountered, of developing sufcient power to drive the computer mechanism while concurrently maintaining its metering, or volume-responsive funcf tion. It has therefore been found expedient to employ vpiston types of meters, wherein losses due to the work imposed on the meter may be minimized by packings or the like.

Such meters are openxto4 certain objections in the way of initial cost andservice difficulties, and, were it not for the conflicting duties imposed by the computer load, they ,would be replaced, to a large extent, by simpler and less expensive ilow meters, for example, of the rotary vane or nutating disc type. This type, while readily responsive to liquid flow, vloses its effectiveness as` a measuring element when the torque load imposed thereon becomes appreciable: to the extent that the meter must operloses its `function as a true ateas a motor, is meier- Y i According to the present invention, thereV is devised a liquid meter wherein the last named type of metering element may desired, as a driving device rfor counters having a high resistance, and4 wherein the metering function vas such is removed from the driving member, and is? performed by a second flow responsive element not connected to the counter. The second element, being free running, thus may l.respond accurately v to the liquid flow, and its sole duty,

be employed, if

-as-a meter, and the first of is directly connected to the counter,

in the course of such response,`is to govern a control device, through which the two elements are caused to move in synchronism. The counter thus reflects the liquid volume passing thefree running element,` rather than the liquidy volume which passes through the heavily loaded first, or turbine element.

Stated otherwise, the present invention con-' templates two hydraulically operated members, disposed infseries, the second of which functions which functions as a turbine or driving means for the computer at a speed which is synchronized to, and therefore reflective of, the liquid volume passing the meter.

In the hereinafter described specific embpdiment of the principles of the invention, there is provided a simple form of ow meter through which the pump effluent passes, and which has its movable element directly connected to the counter to drive the sama-thereby, in effect. duplicating the known and inaccurate system of the prior art. The liquid emerging from such member is not, however,'permitted to ow directly to the delivery hose, but it is first made to flow through a second similar membenand which, in this invention, constitutes the real `meter, as distinguished from the first member tion of Ythe delivered volume is transmitted to the counter, by means of a differentialv gear train interposed between the two hydraulically responsive members.

If there should be any speed differential be# tween the turbine and the meter, as there normally should be because of the difference in loads imposed, such differential will cause the operation of the gearing, and this effect is utilized to open or close, as the case may require, a valve in a vent or bleed line connected to the liquid path between the turbine and meter. Volumes of gasoline may, therefore, be diverted from the meter before passing therethrough, and, since the opening or closing ofthe valve will continue until the turbine and meter run in synchronism, the ,ultimateresult ls that the differential gearing functions, under"4 the control of the meter, to produce such synchronism. The turbine, which accordingly is made to operate at the same equivalent speed as the meter, and therefore the counter reflects Vdiscs carry axial spindles ferred'to as the turbine,

accurately the volume which actually passes unloaded meter element.

The invention, and the advantages to be derived from the practice thereof, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of a single embodiment, read in connection with the appendedy drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a metering unit, with which is diagrammatically illustrated the usual components of a motor driven gasoline dispensingiiump assembly;

Fig. 2 is a section, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and y.

Fig. :iv is a fragmentary sectionalview showing a modification of the valve structure illustrated in Fig. 2. 1

Referring rst to Fig. Y1, the novel meter, ge erally designated by the reference numeral III, is shown in association with a Vgasoline dispensing assembly, wherein a motor driven pump II draws gasoline from a storage the separator I4 to eil'ect titiously included air the elimination of advenor other incondensible gas volumes. 'Ihe liquid, in its gas-free state, is

may readily control the amount of liquid dis-- pensed.` The amount of dispensed gasoline is indicated by a counter connected to the meter unit III through a shaft 22.

The metering unit Il includes a casing C consisting of a'cylindrical body 25, whose open ends are capped by lower and upper heads 26 and 21, each respectively provided with one of the above mentioned ttings I6 and I 1. The heads and the body are internally shouldered, as indicated by the numerals 28 and 26, to receive the peripheral flange portions and 32 oi' similar hydraulically responsive members T and M. Gaskets 33 are interposed between the parts. When the lower and upper headsl 26 and 21 are clamped together, by means of screws 34, the members T and M are securely locked and are sealed within the casing C. This assembly, in effect, divides the casing into an inlet chamber I6, a central or synchronizing chamber 21, and an outlet chamber I6.

. The members T and M are preferably, although not necessarily, simple and well known nutating disc type flow meters, and they comprise two-part housings 40, a containing suitably mounted discs 4I, 4Ia, respectively. The 42, 42a, so mounted as to project through their respective housings toward'the synchronizing chamber 21. The housings are formed with cylindrical extensions 44, 44a, to which are secured caps 45 formed with axial bearings to receive shafts 46 and 41 respectively. Each shaft carries 'a slotted crank, 48 and l49 respectively, which is engaged by the assoclated spindle 42 or 42a.

The member T, which will hereinafter be reis provided with an inlet port '56, communicating with the chamber 36, and an outlet port 5I which opens into the chamber 31. Similarly, the meter member M is formed with inlet and outlet ports 53 and 54, respectively an enlarged scale, on-

tank I2 through a suction pipe I3, and delivers theliquld to an air theV to govern the operation communicating with the chambers 31 and 38. It will be observed that the inlet andcutlet ports of the turbine and meter are so arranged that the circular liquid ilow through the turbine T is counterclockwise, while the flow through the meter M is clockwise, and accordingly, the shafts 46 and 41, which are driven by the respective elements, rotate in oppositedirections.. l

A bevel gear 56 and a pinion' l1 are secured to the shaft 46,-the pinion meshing with a gear 58 forming a part of a gear reduction train which also includes the gears 59 and 60. The gear 6l is secured to the lower extremity 22a ofthe shaft 22 through which the counter?, 26 is y driven. 'I'hese parts are mounted on, or. bymeansof, a cover plate 6I adapted to be positioned over an opening 62 formed in the wall of the body 25 by means of screws 63. The body of lathe. plate is formed with-bearings 64 and 654'ior4theshait extremity 22a, and with an internally extending bracket 66, carrying a stud 61 upon which the intermediate gears 58 and 59 are rotatably mounted.

As thus far described, and with the under` standing that the nominal volumetriccapacity per cycle of the meter M is the same as that of the turbine T, it will be apparent that the actual amount of liquid passing the turbine per cycle is in excess of the actual amounty passing the meter. This is, of course, due to the fact that the turbine is under the load imposed by the gear train and the internal resistance of the counter 2II. The resulting pressure drop between its inlet and outlet ports, or between the'chambers 36 and 31, is therefore positive, while the pressure drop between chambers 31 and 38, on opposite sides of the free running meter, is practically negligible, because the meterhasno work to do. Since the slippage volume of liquid, or that amount passing the member per cycle in excess of its theoretical capacity. is a function of the pressure drop, the turbine T will have an apparently greater capacity than the meter M, even though the two elements are entirely alike.

The net effect oi' this condition, if tolerated, would be to cause the meter M to operate at a higher rate of speed than the turbine T, due to the tendency to build up an excess liquid volume in the chamber 31. This eiiect is herein utilized of the unit, through a control mechanism generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

'Ihe controlmechanism comprises the above mentioned bevel gear 56, together with a similar bevel gear 56asecured to the shaft 41, and a spider or pinion carrier 12 which is rotatably mounted on the upper extremity of the shaft 46. The spider is formed with pintles 13 which rotatably support pinions 14, meshing with thel bevel gears 56 and 56a, and retained in position by thrust collars 15 and 16. Themechanism, as thus described. will be recognized as a common form of differential gearing betweentwo shafts.

Referring nowmore particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that a lever 80 is supported ona lug 1.9 formed on the inner wall oi the body 25, and that it is pivotally mounted thereon by means of a stud 8|. 82 and 83 are also formed on the inner wall to limit the movement of the lever Bt. One end of the lever is pivotally connected to a link by means of a pin 86, and the other end of the link-is formed with a yoke 81, which in turn is pivotally connected to the .collar 15 of the pinion carrier 12.

The body 25 is also formed with an external bore as, in which is nidamy mounted a valve an,

adapted to seat on a port 9| in communication with the chamber 31.' The valve 90 is formed with a stem 90a which projects through the port 9| into contacting engagement withthe lever 00. The valve is placed under predetermined load by a spring-92 which is compressed against the outer valve end by means of the adjusting screw 90, which thereby constantly urges the valve towards its seat. The bore 89 is intercepted by a diag-l onally disposed passage 94,j which is connected by a return conduit 95 to a low pressure source, such, for example,-as the suction side of the y In explanation of the oper mechanism, it will rst be recalled that the shafts 46 and 41, respectively driven by the turbine and the meter, rotate in opposite, directions.

Any difference in speed between them will. therefore, cause motion of the pinion'carrier 12, while. on the other hand, if the speeds be the same, the pinion carrier will tend to remain stationary, its plnlons simply rotating freely on their own axes. The rotation of the pinion carrier will. be, of

' course, in the same direction as that of the shaft having theV greater speed. These effects, inherent in the differential gearing, are employed to assure synchronous operation of the heavily loaded turbine, and the relatively unloaded meter.

yThe above mentioned tendency of the meter to run faster than 'the turbine, due to the slippage volume of liquid, accordingly causes the pinion carrier 12 to rotate in the same direction (clockwise)` as the meter, and therefore moves the lever 80 against the stem of the valve 90, thus opening the valve. As the valve is opened, however, a portion ofthe liquid volume in the synchronizing chamber` 31 is immediately diverted from the meter inlet, tothe suction side of the pump, and therefore, the initially impressed, speed producing force, which caused the overrunning of the meter, is diminished, and the speed is thereupon diminished. This change produces a readjustment of the carrier 12, and therefore a repositioning of the valve 90, and this modulation continues until the valve 90 is open to that degree which permits the meter and the turbine to run at synchronous speeds.

Of course, since' the actual flow through the unloaded meter is accurately reflected by the movement of `the meter measuring element', and

since the turbine operates at the'same speed,

then the indications produced in the counter 20 are accurate indications of the liquid volume actually dispensed,which is, of course, the ultimate result sought.

The explanation just vmade presupposed the nozzle I9 to be open, for otherwise no flow can take place. Let it next be assumed that the attendant closes the nozzle, as he does at the end of a dispensing operation. The meter M is then brought to an abrupt stop, while the turbine T, still able to discharge some small liquid volume through the open port 9|, will overrun a few degrees. This action reverses the previously described movement of the pinion carrier, causing the lever 80 to be withdrawn from the stem 90a, and thus permitting the valve 90 to seat tightly.

No additionalv amount ofV liquid can then enter theV bleed line 95, and the slight degree of over- \running is not reflected in the counter itself, due

to the compensation incident to the initial startation of the control the meter. Itlmaybe also noted that, by connecting the vent line 95 to the suction side of the pump, there is established a circuit analogous to those empolyed for reducing, below atmospheric, the low pressure side of a turbine,a condition which permits operation of the turbine with greater emciency,or, what is more important here, greater torque development for driving the counter 22.

As illustrative of the many modifications which may be made in the specic elements and arrangements of parts shown in the embodiment of the invention, Vreference may be made to Fig. 3, showing a sleeve valve |90 replacing thesprlng loaded valve 90. In view of variations in the suction and discharge pressures 'of the pump Il in different installations, it may be desirable to forego the use of `spring loaded valves in order to safeguard against erroneous field settings of the spring 92, which might thereby impose significantV resistance on the meter M.

. The bore 99 is accordingly reamed through, as indicated by the reference numeral |09, while the passage 94 is so relocated as to intercept the bore at right angles, as indicated by the numeral |94. The sleeve valve |90 consists of a cylinder formed with transverse openings |921 adapted to,

be aligned or misaligned with the passage |94 as the cylinder moves in the bore |89.

The valve |90 is operatively connected to the lever |90 by a connecting rod |99, the lower end It will be understood that while the invention vhas been described with reference to its utility in the dispensing of gasoline, the novel meter may be employed for other purposes and in other relationships. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the precise vdetails herein described, but that its scope should be deemed commensurate with the following claims.

I claim: y Y,

1. A liquid meter comprising a casing formed with inlet and outlet ports, a hydraulically responsive flow member positioned in the casing adjacent the inlet port, a second hydraulically responsive flow member positioned in the 'casing adjacent the outlet port, said members being spaced in said casing and each being formed with inlet and outlet ports to provide a series passage through said casing and said members, means connected to said first named member adapted to drive a counter, a vent port formed in the casing intermediate said members, a valve for normally closing said port, and differential gearing interposed between said members and connected thereto and to said valve for actuation Y ing of the system, and the minimization of the bers resulting from flow of liquid through said possible error by the gear train reduction. i 75 casing. i

in opposite directions of the ing operable by asynchronous movement of said hydraulically operable members for moving said valve.

3. A liquid meter`comprising a casing formed with inlet and -outlet\ports adjacent the ends thereof and a bleed portintermedlate said inlet andoutlet ports, a hydraulic turbine mounted in saidcasing adjacent the inlet port, said ,turbinev having an inlet, in fluid communication with the inlet port and a discharge opening .in uid communication with the intermediate portion of the casing, a flow meter mounted in said casing adjacent the outlet l:port-thereof, said a discharge opening in fluid communication with the outlet port of the casing, the inlets and outlets of said turbine and meter being so disposed with respect to each other as to effect movement flow responsive elements thereof, shafts connected to the ow responsive elements of both the turbine and the meter and extending into the intermediate portion of the casing, a driving connection on the turbine driven-shaft for operating a counter, a valve for normally closing the bleed port, differential gearing having two of its elements respectively connected to the turbine driven shaft and the meter driven shaft and its third element driven' by any speed diierence between said first two elements, and means connected to said third element ofthe differential gearing for operating said valve and thereby opening or closing the bleed port in response to such speed difference.

4. A liquid meter comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having heads on each end thereof, each of said heads being formed with openings constituting main liquid. inlet and outlet ports respectively, said casing being formed adjacent its intermediate portion with a bleed port and a gear opening, a cover plate for the gear opening, a counter driving shaft mounted in the plate, reductiongearing mounted on` the plate and connected to said driving shaft and extending through the opening into the intermediate portion of the casing, a hydraulic turbine mounted in the casing with an inlet in fluid communication with the said liquid inlet port and with a discharge opening in fluid communication path, and differential gear-v with the intermediate portion of the casing, a said turbine, said turbine driven cation with the emerging liquid, and means responsive to any speed differential between the meter and the turbine for opening or closing the bleed line.

liquid discharged from the turbine, a bleed line in uid communication with said discharged liqbleed line, and

respectively, and its third element connected to change the position of the valve.

7. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, means for liquid under pressure, a

receiving the discharge from the turbine, a low pressure source in uid communication with the throttling valve- PORTER S. MORGAN. 

